Method for increasing the proportion of animal cells secreting galectin-9

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a cell that can exhibit physiological activity based on galectin-9, a method for producing the cell, and use of the cell. In order to achieve the above object, the cell of the present invention contains galectin-9, and the galectin-9 is expressed on a cell surface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for increasing a proportion of animal cells capable of secreting galectin-9, the method comprising:
 culturing animal cells under any of the following conditions 1) to 3):
 1) in the presence of T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation, 
 2) in the presence of galectin-9, and 
 3) in the presence of both TCR stimulation and galectin-9; 
 
 and thereby increasing the proportion of animal cells capable of secreting galectin-9. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise T cells. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise CD4 positive T cells. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise follicular B helper T cells (TFH cells). 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise γδT cells. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise natural killer cells (NK cells). 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise B cells. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise NKT cells. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise conventional dendritic cells (cDCs). 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise pDC-like macrophages (pDC-Mφs). 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise cells capable of increased CD25 expression and galectin-9 and interleukin 10 (IL-10) secretion by T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the animal cells increased in proportion comprise cells that do not express Foxp3. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the galectin-9 cultured with the animal cells has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.